Hand-held game apparatus and game program

ABSTRACT

A hand-held game apparatus and a game program are provided which allow a user to play a game while going back and forth between two kinds of maps, namely, a narrow-range map and a broad-range map game, and arbitrarily change the displayed state of at least one of the broad-range map and the narrow-range map by manipulating a touch panel which is mounted on a liquid crystal display section for displaying the broad-range map. If the player manipulates the touch panel to point to a coordinate position on the broad-range map, thus designating coordinates for a narrow-range map to display, an image of the narrow-range map, which is changed as desired, is displayed. If the player indicates a moving direction on the broad-range map, thus designating a scroll direction, the broad-range map is moved (scrolled).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/837,650 filed May 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,323,104 issued Dec. 4,2012, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2003-412582 filed Dec. 10, 2003. The disclosures of the priorapplications are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hand-held game apparatus and a gameprogram, and more particularly to a hand-held game apparatus includingliquid crystal display sections embodying two screens, for example, witha touch panel being provided on at least one of the screens, such thattwo kinds of maps are displayed on the two screens for allowing a userto enjoy a unique game play; and a game program for use therewith.

2. Description of the Background Art

The following conventional techniques are known: Japanese PatentLaid-Open Publication No. H4-369027 (hereinafter “Conventional Technique1”) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H7-294892 (hereinafter“Conventional Technique 2”), each disclosing a mobile informationterminal employing a touch panel; Japanese Patent Laid-Open PublicationNo. 58-116377 (hereinafter “Conventional Technique 3”) disclosing ahand-held game apparatus incorporating two screens; Japanese PatentLaid-Open Publication No. 2002-325963 (hereinafter “ConventionalTechnique 4”) disclosing a game system employing two screens; andJapanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H6-285259 (hereinafter“Conventional Technique 5”) disclosing a controller for a video gamemachine employing a touch panel.

In Conventional Technique 1 and Conventional Technique 2, two (upper andlower) screens are provided, with a touch panel being provided on one ofthe screens for displaying an operational input screen. ConventionalTechnique 1 and Conventional Technique 2 may be suitable for theinputting of text or still image information. However, when it comes toapplications dealing with moving pictures (e.g., a video game), there isno disclosure concerning what sort of operational input screen will bedisplayed and what sort of image is to be displayed in response to anoperational input. Thus, from Conventional Technique 1 and ConventionalTechnique 2, it is not known what sort of usage is possible in thecontext of a video game (e.g., what sort of displayed content isprovided by the software).

Conventional Technique 3 is directed to a hand-held game machineprovided with two (upper and lower) screens, the upper screen displayinga stationary image of a two-storied building (showing the outer look ofboth the first and second floors), and the lower screen showing theinside of the first floor in a stationary manner, against whichcharacters and falling movements of oil are displayed in segments.However, since the background images displayed on the upper and lowerscreens are stationary, and the moving characters and oil drops are onlydisplayed in segments, Conventional Technique 3 is best suited todisplaying images with simple and little motion, as opposed to a map (oran imaginary game world) of a large game space which would be requiredfor popular role playing games (RPGs), simulation RPGs (SRPGs), actiongames, and shooting games.

Conventional Technique 4 is directed to a game system where a pluralityof hand-held game machines are connected to a single video game machine.A shared map which is common to a plurality of players is displayed on ascreen that is displayed by the video game machine on a householdtelevision set, while a dedicated image is displayed on the screen of ahand-held game machine of each player, the latter image being confinedto a narrow field as viewed by the player. However, ConventionalTechnique 4 requires a single household television set and a pluralityof hand-held game machines, thus resulting in a complicated andexpensive system configuration. While Conventional Technique 4 issuitable for displaying a simple map image such as that of a maze puzzlegame, this technique is not suitable for RPGs, SRPGs, action gamesbecause such games would generally require complex and broad maps.Moreover, the picture to be displayed on each hand-held game machine islimited to a field of view as determined by the program; that is, theuser is not allowed to select the displayed area. Thus, the gameoperation may become monotonous, which may lead to boredom of the user.

In Conventional Technique 5, a touch panel and a liquid crystal displaydevice are provided for a game controller, which is to be connected to avideo game machine. Operable icons, such as operation switches and thelike, are displayed on the liquid crystal display device of the liquidcrystal controller (game controller), such that an operation signalwhich is input by the user touching on the touch panel causes adisplayed picture on the TV screen to change. Conventional Technique 5touches on the problem of displaying two kinds of screens, such as:displaying a game picture of an airplane from a different point of viewon the TV screen, while displaying an icon such as a control stick to beoperated in a cockpit thereof on the liquid crystal display screen (asshown in its FIG. 3); displaying a game picture of an entire piano onthe TV screen, while displaying icons such as keys of the keyboard ofthe piano to be played on the liquid crystal display screen (as shown inits FIG. 4); displaying an entire map on the TV screen, while displayingan enlarged image including tanks or airplanes which are controllable bythe player on the liquid crystal display screen (as shown in its FIG.7). However, according to Conventional Technique 5, the game screen isnonetheless displayed on a single TV screen, and no specific means forsolving the above problem is particularly disclosed. Moreover, thedisplay image on the TV screen and the display image on the liquidcrystal display screen both depend on the program, which means that theplayer cannot freely change the displayed area or change the range to beenlarged. Thus, the displayed images may become monotonous, and the usermay become bored. Furthermore, since the touch panel and the liquidcrystal display device are provided on the game controller, the playerwill have to look down to watch the operative icons or look up to gazestraight ahead at the game picture on the TV screen, and therefore islikely to feel ocular fatigue. Moreover, in order to go back and forthbetween the TV screen and the liquid crystal display screen which isprovided on the game controller, a slight change in the viewing angle orviewing direction would not suffice. Such difficulties in looking at thedisplays leads to poor controllability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the present invention is provide a novel hand-heldgame apparatus which allows a user to play a game while going back andforth between two kinds of maps, namely, a narrow-range map and abroad-range map game, and arbitrarily change the displayed state of atleast one of the broad-range map and the narrow-range map bymanipulating a touch panel which is mounted correspondingly to a liquidcrystal display section for displaying the broad-range map; and a gameprogram for use therewith.

Another object of the present invention is provide a hand-held gameapparatus which allows a user to play a game by using two kinds of maps,namely, a narrow-range map and a broad-range map game, such that theplayer can arbitrarily change the displayed state (e.g., a movingdirection and a moving range) of the broad-range map by manipulating atouch panel which is mounted correspondingly to a liquid crystal displaysection for displaying the broad-range map; and a game program for usetherewith.

Still another object of the present invention is provide a hand-heldgame apparatus which allows a user to play a game by using two kinds ofmaps, namely, a narrow-range map and a broad-range map game, such thatthe player can arbitrarily change the displayed state (e.g., thedisplayed area or a coordinate position) of the narrow-range map bymanipulating a touch panel which is mounted correspondingly to a liquidcrystal display section for displaying the broad-range map; and a gameprogram for use therewith.

Yet another object of the present invention is provide a hand-held gameapparatus which, by using a narrow-range map and a broad-range map game,allows a user to play a game which is novel and interesting and whichrequires strategic thoughts, as compared to games which can be played onconventional hand-held game machines; and a game program for usetherewith.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided ahand-held game apparatus comprising a first liquid crystal displaysection, a second liquid crystal display section, a housing, a touchpanel, manipulation detection means, map image data generation means,object image data generation means, map image data change impartingmeans, and display control means.

The first liquid crystal display section displays a first game pictureincluding a map for a game. The a second liquid crystal display section,located near the first liquid crystal display section, displays a secondgame picture including a map covering a broader range than does the mapdisplayed on the first liquid crystal display section. The housingaccommodates the first liquid crystal display section and the secondliquid crystal display section. The touch panel, mounted at leastcorrespondingly to the second liquid crystal display section, outputscoordinate data when the touch panel is manipulated, the coordinate dataindicating a manipulated position on a display surface of the secondliquid crystal display section. The manipulation detection means detectsat least one of a designated coordinate position and a designated movingdirection based on the coordinate data output from the touch panel.Based on a game program, the map image data generation means generatesbroad-range map image data for causing the second liquid crystal displaysection to display a broad-range map image, and narrow-range map imagedata for causing the first liquid crystal display section to display anarrow-range map image. The object image data generation means generatesobject image data for causing at least the first liquid crystal displaysection to display an object belonging to the game. In accordance withat least one of the designated coordinate position and the designatedmoving direction as detected by the manipulation detection means on thesecond liquid crystal display section, the map image data changeimparting means changes at least one of the narrow-range map image dataand the broad-range map image data generated by the map image generationmeans. The display control means controls the first liquid crystaldisplay section to display as the first game picture the narrow-rangemap image data generated by the map image data generation means togetherwith the object image data generated by the object image data generationmeans being superposed thereon, controls the second liquid crystaldisplay section to display as the second game picture the broad-rangemap image data generated by the map image data generation means, andfurther controls one of the first or second liquid crystal displaysection to display at least one of the broad-range or narrow-range mapimage data as changed by the map image data change imparting means.

Thus, a hand-held game apparatus can be provided which allows the playerto change the displayed state of at least one of the broad-range map andthe narrow-range map through the manipulation of the touch panel.

According to a second aspect, the manipulation detection means detectsthe designated coordinate position based on the coordinate data outputfrom the touch panel, and the map image data change imparting meanschanges, in accordance with the designated coordinate position asdetected by the manipulation detection means on the broad-range mapdisplayed by the second liquid crystal display section, the narrow-rangemap image data generated by the map image generation means so as torepresent a narrow-range map image around the designated coordinateposition.

Thus, the narrow-range map image can be changed so as to represent theneighborhood of a coordinate position designated on the broad-range mapscreen by means of the touch panel.

According to a third aspect, the manipulation detection means detectsthe designated moving direction based on the coordinate data output fromthe touch panel, and the map image data change imparting means changes,in accordance with the designated moving direction as detected by themanipulation detection means on the broad-range map displayed by thesecond liquid crystal display section, the broad-range map image datagenerated by the map image generation means so as to represent abroad-range map image having been moved in the designated movingdirection.

Thus, the broad-range map image can be moved (scrolled) in a directiondesignated through the manipulation of the touch panel.

According to a fourth aspect, the manipulation detection means detectsthe designated coordinate position and the designated moving directionbased on the coordinate data output from the touch panel. The map imagedata change imparting means is operable to: change, in accordance withthe designated coordinate position as detected by the manipulationdetection means on the broad-range map displayed by the second liquidcrystal display section, the narrow-range map image data generated bythe map image generation means so as to represent a narrow-range mapimage around the designated coordinate position, and change, inaccordance with the designated moving direction as detected by themanipulation detection means on the broad-range map displayed by thesecond liquid crystal display section, the broad-range map image datagenerated by the map image generation means so as to represent abroad-range map image having been moved in the designated movingdirection.

Thus, based on the manipulation of the touch panel, the displayed areaof the narrow-range map image can be changed, and also the broad-areamap image can be scrolled.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a hand-held gameapparatus comprising a first liquid crystal display section, a secondliquid crystal display section, a housing, a touch panel, manipulationdetection means, first map image data generation means, second map imagedata generation means, object image data generation means, map imagedata change imparting means, and display control means, where the changein the map image according to the first aspect is a change in thenarrow-range map image.

The first liquid crystal display section, the second liquid crystaldisplay section, the housing, the touch panel, and the object image datageneration means are constructed similarly to those in the hand-heldgame apparatus according to the first aspect. The map image datageneration means comprises a first map image data generation means and asecond map image data generation means. The manipulation detection meansat least detects coordinate data of a designated coordinate positionbased on a manipulation of the touch panel. Based on a game program, thefirst map image data generation means generates narrow-range map imagedata for causing the first liquid crystal display section to display anarrow-range map image. Based on the game program, the second map imagedata generation means generates broad-range map image data for causingthe second liquid crystal display section to display a broad-range mapimage. In response to an instruction of a designated coordinate positionfor enlarged display as detected by the manipulation detection means onthe broad-range map image, the map image data change imparting means atleast changes the narrow-range map image data so as to represent anarrow-range map image around the designated coordinate position. Thedisplay control means controls the first liquid crystal display sectionto display as the first game picture the narrow-range map image datagenerated by the first map image data generation means or changed by themap image change imparting means together with the object image datagenerated by the object image data generation means being superposedthereon, and controlling the second liquid crystal display section todisplay as the second game picture the broad-range map image datagenerated by the second map image data generation means.

According to a sixth aspect, while the broad-range map image is beingdisplayed by the second liquid crystal display section, the manipulationdetection means generates data designating a displayed area for thenarrow-range map image which is centered around the designatedcoordinate position, based on a predetermined click operation on thetouch panel, and the map image data change imparting means changes, inaccordance with the data designating the displayed area as detected bythe manipulation detection means, the narrow-range map image data so asto represent a narrow-range map image around the designated coordinateposition.

According to a seventh aspect, the manipulation detection means detectsthe designated moving direction based on a manipulation of the touchpanel, and the map image data change imparting means changes, inresponse to an instruction of a moving direction as detected by themanipulation detection means, the broad-range map image data generatedby the second map image generation means so as to represent abroad-range map image having been moved in the designated movingdirection.

According to an eighth aspect, the manipulation detection means detectsthe instruction of the moving direction based on an amount of change inthe coordinate data as detected over time, and the map image data changeimparting means comprises scroll display control means for graduallychanging, in accordance with the instruction of the moving direction asdetected by the manipulation detection means, the broad-range map imagedata generated by the second map image data generation means so as torepresent a broad-range map image which is gradually scrolled in thedesignated moving direction.

According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a hand-held gameapparatus comprising a first liquid crystal display section, a secondliquid crystal display section, a housing, a touch panel, manipulationdetection means, first map image data generation means, second map imagedata generation means, object image data generation means, map imagedata change imparting means, and display control means, where the changein the map image according to the first aspect is a change in thebroad-range map image. The first liquid crystal display section, thesecond liquid crystal display section, the housing, the touch panel, andthe object image data generation means are constructed similarly tothose in the hand-held game apparatus according to the first aspect. Themap image data generation means comprises a first map image datageneration means and a second map image data generation means. Themanipulation detection means at least detects a moving direction inaccordance with a change in a designated coordinate position, based onthe coordinate data output from the touch panel. Based on a gameprogram, the first map image data generation means generatesnarrow-range map image data for causing the first liquid crystal displaysection to display a narrow-range map image. Based on the game program,the second map image data generation means generates broad-range mapimage data for causing the second liquid crystal display section todisplay a broad-range map image. In response to an instruction of amoving direction as detected by the manipulation detection means on thebroad-range map image, the map image data change imparting means atleast changes the narrow-range map image data generated by the secondmap image data generation means so as to represent a broad-range mapimage having been moved in the designated moving direction. The displaycontrol means controls the first liquid crystal display section todisplay as the first game picture the narrow-range map image datagenerated by the first map image data generation means together with theobject image data generated by the object image data generation meansbeing superposed thereon, and controlling the second liquid crystaldisplay section to display as the second game picture the broad-rangemap image data generated by the second map image data generation meansor changed by the map image change imparting means.

According to a tenth aspect, the manipulation detection means furtherdetects a designated coordinate position based on a manipulation of thetouch panel, the map image data change imparting means changes, inresponse to the manipulation detection means detecting the coordinateposition, the narrow-range map image data generated by the first mapimage data generation means so as to represent an enlarged narrow-rangemap image around the designated coordinate position, and the displaycontrol means controls the first liquid crystal display section todisplay as the first game picture the narrow-range map image data havingbeen moved by the map image data change imparting means together withthe object image data generated by the object image data generationmeans being superposed thereon.

According to an eleventh aspect, the object image data generation meansgenerates large-size player object image data for causing the firstliquid crystal display section to display a large-size player object andsmall-size player object image data for causing the second liquidcrystal display section to display a small-size player object, and themap image data change imparting means changes the narrow-range map imagedata generated by the map image generation means in accordance with thedesignated coordinate position as detected by the manipulation detectionmeans on the broad-range map, and changes the broad-range map image dataso as to represent a scrolled broad-range map image in accordance withthe designated moving direction as detected by the manipulationdetection means on the broad-range map. The display control means isoperable to: control the first liquid crystal display section to displayas the first game picture the narrow-range map image data having beenchanged by the map image data change imparting means together with thelarge-size player object image data generated by the object image datageneration means being superposed thereon, and control the second liquidcrystal display section to display as the second game picture thebroad-range map image data having been changed by the map image datachange imparting means together with the small-size player object imagedata generated by the object image data generation means beingsuperposed thereon, thus causing the changed narrow-range map image andthe changed broad-range map image to be displayed.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, there is provided a gameprogram corresponding to the hand-held game apparatus of the firstaspect, for use with a hand-held game apparatus comprising: a firstliquid crystal display section for displaying a first game pictureincluding a map for a game; a second liquid crystal display section,located near the first liquid crystal display section, for displaying asecond game picture including a map covering a broader range than doesthe map displayed on the first liquid crystal display section; a housingfor accommodating the first liquid crystal display section and thesecond liquid crystal display section; a touch panel, mounted at leastcorrespondingly to the second liquid crystal display section, foroutputting coordinate data when the touch panel is manipulated, thecoordinate data indicating a manipulated position on a display surfaceof the second liquid crystal display section; and a computer. The gameprogram causes the computer to execute: a manipulation detection step, amap image data generation step, an object image data generation step, amap image data change imparting step, and a display control step.

The manipulation detection step detects at least one of a designatedcoordinate position and a designated moving direction based on thecoordinate data output from the touch panel. Based on a game program,the map image data generation step generates broad-range map image datafor causing the second liquid crystal display section to display abroad-range map image, and narrow-range map image data for causing thefirst liquid crystal display section to display a narrow-range mapimage. The object image data generation step generates object image datafor causing at least the first liquid crystal display section to displayan object belonging to the game. In accordance with at least one of thedesignated coordinate position and the designated moving direction asdetected by the manipulation detection step on the broad-range map, themap image data change imparting step changes at least one of thenarrow-range map image data and the broad-range map image data generatedby the map image generation step. The display control step controls thefirst liquid crystal display section to display as the first gamepicture the narrow-range map image data generated by the map image datageneration step together with the object image data generated by theobject image data generation step being superposed thereon, controls thesecond liquid crystal display section to display as the second gamepicture the broad-range map image data generated by the map image datageneration step, and further controls one of the first or second liquidcrystal display section to display at least one of the broad-range ornarrow-range map image data as changed by the map image data changeimparting step.

Thus, a game program can be provided which allows the player to changethe displayed state of at least one of the broad-range map and thenarrow-range map through the manipulation of the touch panel.

According to a thirteenth aspect, the map image data change impartingstep changes, in accordance with the designated coordinate position asdetected by the manipulation detection step on the broad-range map, thenarrow-range map image data generated by the map image generation stepso as to represent a narrow-range map image around the designatedcoordinate position.

According to a fourteenth aspect, the map image data change impartingstep changes, in accordance with the designated moving direction asdetected by the manipulation detection step on the broad-range map, thebroad-range map image data generated by the map image generation step soas to represent a broad-range map image having been moved in thedesignated moving direction.

According to a fifteenth aspect, the map image data change impartingstep comprises: changing, in accordance with the designated coordinateposition as detected by the manipulation detection step on thebroad-range map, the narrow-range map image data generated by the mapimage generation step so as to represent a narrow-range map image aroundthe designated coordinate position, and changing, in accordance with thedesignated moving direction as detected by the manipulation detectionstep on the broad-range map, the broad-range map image data generated bythe map image generation step so as to represent a broad-range map imagehaving been moved in the designated moving direction.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided agame program corresponding to the hand-held game apparatus of the fifthaspect, for use with a hand-held game apparatus comprising: a firstliquid crystal display section for displaying a first game pictureincluding a map for a game; a second liquid crystal display section,located near the first liquid crystal display section, for displaying asecond game picture including a map covering a broader range than doesthe map displayed on the first liquid crystal display section; a housingfor accommodating the first liquid crystal display section and thesecond liquid crystal display section in predetermined positions; atouch panel, mounted at least correspondingly to the second liquidcrystal display section, for outputting coordinate data when the touchpanel is manipulated, the coordinate data indicating a manipulatedposition on a display surface of the second liquid crystal displaysection; and a computer. The game program causes the computer toexecute: a manipulation detection step, a first map image datageneration step, a second map image data generation step, an objectimage data generation step, a map image data change imparting step, anda display control step. The manipulation detection step at least detectscoordinate data of a designated coordinate position based on amanipulation of the touch panel. Based on a game program, the first mapimage data generation step generates narrow-range map image data forcausing the first liquid crystal display section to display anarrow-range map image. Based on the game program, the second map imagedata generation step generates broad-range map image data for causingthe second liquid crystal display section to display a broad-range mapimage. The object image data generation step generates object image datafor causing at least the first liquid crystal display section to displayan object belonging to the game. In response to an instruction of adesignated coordinate position for enlarged display as detected by themanipulation detection step on the broad-range map image, the map imagedata change imparting step at least changes the narrow-range map imagedata so as to represent a narrow-range map image around the designatedcoordinate position. The display control step controls the first liquidcrystal display section to display as the first game picture thenarrow-range map image data generated by the first map image datageneration step or changed by the map image change imparting steptogether with the object image data generated by the object image datageneration step being superposed thereon, and controlling the secondliquid crystal display section to display as the second game picture thebroad-range map image data generated by the second map image datageneration step.

According to a seventeenth aspect, while the broad-range map image isbeing displayed by the second liquid crystal display section, themanipulation detection step generates data designating a displayed areafor the narrow-range map image which is centered around the designatedcoordinate position, based on a predetermined click operation on thetouch panel, and the map image data change imparting step changes, inaccordance with the data designating the displayed area as detected bythe manipulation detection step, the narrow-range map image data so asto represent a narrow-range map image around the designated coordinateposition.

According to an eighteenth aspect, the manipulation detection stepdetects the designated moving direction based on a manipulation of thetouch panel, and the map image data change imparting step changes, inresponse to an instruction of a moving direction as detected by themanipulation detection step, the broad-range map image data generated bythe second map image generation step so as to represent a broad-rangemap image having been moved in the designated moving direction.

According to a nineteenth aspect, the manipulation detection stepdetects the instruction of the moving direction based on an amount ofchange in the coordinate data as detected over time, and the map imagedata change imparting step comprises a scroll display control step ofgradually changing, in accordance with the instruction of the movingdirection as detected by the manipulation detection step, thebroad-range map image data generated by the second map image datageneration step so as to represent a broad-range map image which isgradually scrolled in the designated moving direction.

According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, there is provided agame program corresponding to the hand-held game apparatus of thetwelfth aspect, for use with a hand-held game apparatus comprising: afirst liquid crystal display section for displaying a first game pictureincluding a map for a game; a second liquid crystal display section,located near the first liquid crystal display section, for displaying asecond game picture including a map covering a broader range than doesthe map displayed on the first liquid crystal display section; a housingfor accommodating the first liquid crystal display section and thesecond liquid crystal display section in predetermined positions; atouch panel, mounted at least correspondingly to the second liquidcrystal display section, for outputting coordinate data when the touchpanel is manipulated, the coordinate data indicating a manipulatedposition on a display surface of the second liquid crystal displaysection; and a computer. The game program causes the computer toexecute: a manipulation detection step, a first map image datageneration step, a second map image data generation step, an objectimage data generation step, a map image data change imparting step, anda display control step. The manipulation detection step at least detectsa moving direction in accordance with a change in a designatedcoordinate position, based on the coordinate data output from the touchpanel. Based on a game program, the first map image data generation stepgenerates narrow-range map image data for causing the first liquidcrystal display section to display a narrow-range map image. Based onthe game program, the second map image data generation step generatesbroad-range map image data for causing the second liquid crystal displaysection to display a broad-range map image. The object image datageneration step generates object image data for causing at least thefirst liquid crystal display section to display an object belonging tothe game. In response to an instruction of a moving direction asdetected by the manipulation detection step on the broad-range mapimage, the map image data change imparting step at least changes thenarrow-range map image data generated by the second map image datageneration step so as to represent a broad-range map image having beenmoved in the designated moving direction. The display control stepcontrols the first liquid crystal display section to display as thefirst game picture the narrow-range map image data generated by thefirst map image data generation step together with the object image datagenerated by the object image data generation step being superposedthereon, and controls the second liquid crystal display section todisplay as the second game picture the broad-range map image datagenerated by the second map image data generation step or changed by themap image change imparting step.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a novelhand-held game apparatus which allows a user to play a game while goingback and forth between two kinds of maps, namely, a narrow-range map anda broad-range map game, and arbitrarily change the displayed state of atleast one of the broad-range map and the narrow-range map bymanipulating a touch panel which is mounted correspondingly to a liquidcrystal display section for displaying the broad-range map; and a gameprogram for use therewith.

Moreover, there is provided a unique advantage which allows a user toplay a game by using two kinds of maps, namely, a narrow-range map and abroad-range map game, such that the player can arbitrarily change thedisplayed state (e.g., a moving direction and a moving range) of thebroad-range map by manipulating a touch panel which is mountedcorrespondingly to a liquid crystal display section for displaying thebroad-range map; and a game program for use therewith.

Moreover, the player can arbitrarily change the displayed state (e.g.,the displayed area or a coordinate position) of the narrow-range map bymanipulating a touch panel which is mounted correspondingly to a liquidcrystal display section for displaying the broad-range map.

Furthermore, there is provided a hand-held game apparatus which, byusing a narrow-range map and a broad-range map game, allows a user toplay a game which is novel and interesting and which requires strategicthoughts, as compared to games which can be played on conventionalhand-held game machines; and a game program for use therewith.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the outer look of a hand-held game apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram (functional block diagram)illustrating the operation principle of a hand-held game apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the entirety of a game map of a game whichis stored in a map image data storage section 25;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing exemplary images to be displayed on a LCD 11and a LCD 12 in an initial state of the broad-range map show in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing exemplary images on the LCD 11 and the LCD12 in the case where a narrow-range map image is changed by designatinga desired coordinate position in the broad-range map image shown in FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the entire game map within which abroad-range map to be displayed on the LCD 12 is moved (scrolled);

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing exemplary images displayed on the LCD 11 andthe LCD 12 in the case where the broad-range map is moved (scrolled);

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a hand-held game apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a memory map illustrating storage areas in a ROM 180;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (former half) of exemplary game software for usewith a hand-held game apparatus on which a game is to be played based ona broad-range map and a narrow-range map;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (former half) of exemplary game software for usewith a hand-held game apparatus on which a game is to be played based ona broad-range map and a narrow-range map;

FIG. 12 is a detailed flowchart of a touch panel manipulation detectionprocess and an associated image processing;

FIG. 13 is a view showing the outer look of a hand-held game apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention (where liquidcrystal display sections embodying two screens are disposed side byside);

FIG. 14 is a view showing the outer look of a hand-held game apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention (using asingle liquid crystal display device to realize liquid crystal displaysections embodying two screens, which are disposed one on top of theother); and

FIG. 15 is a view showing the outer look of a hand-held game apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention (using asingle liquid crystal display device to realize liquid crystal displaysections embodying two screens, which are disposed side by side).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the outer look of a hand-held game apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1,the hand-held game apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment isaccommodated in a housing 13 for placing two liquid crystal displaydevices (LCDs) 11 and 12 in predetermined positions. Specifically, inthe case where the first liquid crystal display device (hereinafterreferred to as “LCD”) 11 and the second LCD 12 are to be disposed one ontop of the other, the housing 13 is composed of an upper housing 13 aand a lower housing 13 b, the upper housing 13 a being supported by aportion of the upper side of the lower housing 13 b so as to bepivotable. The upper housing 13 a has a planar contour which is slightlylarger than that of the first LCD 11. The upper housing 13 a has anopening in one principal face thereof, through which a display surfaceof the LCD 11 is exposed. The lower housing 13 b has a more elongatedplanar contour than that of the upper housing 13 a (i.e., so as to havea longer lateral dimension). An opening for exposing the display surfaceof the LCD 12 is formed in a portion of the lower housing 13 b whichlies substantially in the center of the lower housing 13 b along thelateral direction. An operation switch section 15 is provided on rightand left wings of the lower housing 13 b between which the LCD 12 isinterposed. A sound hole 14 b is formed in either wing of the lowerhousing 13 b.

The operation switch section 15 includes: a direction switch 15 a, astart switch 15 b, and a select switch 15 c, which are provided on aprincipal face of the left wing of the lower housing 13 b (lying to theleft of the LCD 12); and action switches 15 d and 15 e, which areprovided on a principal face of the right wing of the lower housing 13 b(lying to the right of the LCD 12). The direction switch 15 a is used bya player for providing instructions of a direction in which to move aplayer object (or a player character) that can be controlled by theplayer, or instructions of a direction in which to move a cursor, forexample. The action switches 15 d and 15 e are used for givinginstructions of any action other than instructions of directions, e.g.,“jump”, “punch”, or “use a weapon” in the case of an action game, or“get an item” or “select a weapon” or “select a command” in the case ofa role playing game (RPG) or a simulation RPG. As necessary, more actionswitches may be added, and side switches 15L and 15R may be furtherprovided on an upper portion (upper side face) of the area of the lowerhousing 13 b in which the operation switches 15 are mounted.

A touch panel 16 is mounted on the upper principal face of the LCD 12.The touch panel 16 may be of any one of a resistive film type, anoptical type (infrared type), or a capacitive coupling type. When astick 17 (or a finger) is pressed against or moved or dragged on theupper principal face of the touch panel 16, the touch panel 16 detectsthe coordinate position of the stick 17 and outputs coordinate data. Thetouch panel 16 is to be used for indicating the following instructionson a map covering a relatively broad area (hereinafter referred to asthe “broad-range map”), which is to be displayed on the screen of theLCD 12: changing specific coordinates around which to display a mapcovering a narrower area than that of the broad-range map (hereinafterreferred to as the “narrow-range map”); or designating a movingdirection or a scroll direction for the broad-range map itself. However,depending on the type of the game, the touch panel 16 may also be usedfor indicating any other type of input instructions (e.g., selection ormanipulation of an icon which is displayed on the LCD 12, or aninstruction to input coordinates).

As described above, the hand-held game apparatus 10 includes the LCDs 11and 12, which define liquid crystal display sections embodying twoscreens, with the touch panel 16 being provided on the upper principalface of one of the LCDs (for example, the lower screen, i.e., the LCD12). Thus, there exist two screens (LCDs 11 and 12) and two operationsections (15, 16). In this construction, the touch panel 16 is to beused for indicating different operation inputs (or input instructions)from those which can be indicated by using the operation switch section15.

As necessary, a hole 14 a for accommodating the stick 17 with which tomanipulate the touch panel 16 is provided near a side face of the upperhousing 13 a. The hole 14 a can hold the stick 17. In a portion of aside face of the lower housing 13 b is provided a cartridge receptacle(not shown), into which a game cartridge 18 internalizing a memory forstoring a game program (e.g., a ROM) is detachably inserted. A connector(not shown) lies inside the cartridge receptacle for providingelectrical connection with the game cartridge 18. Furthermore, the lowerhousing 13 b (or alternatively the upper housing 13 a) accommodates anelectronic circuit board (indicated as 30 in FIG. 8) on which variouselectronic components such as a CPU are mounted. Examples of informationstorage media for storing a game program are not limited to non-volatilesemiconductor memories such as ROMs or flash memories, but may also beoptical disk type recording media, such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, or the like.

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram (functional block diagram)illustrating the operation principle of the hand-held game apparatusaccording to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, if an operation signalwhich is input by manipulating the operation switch section 15 is inputto an operation switch manipulation detection section 21, themanipulation detection section 21 detects which one(s) of the directionswitch 15 a, the switches 15 b to 15 e, 15L, and 15R in the operationswitch section 15 has been manipulated and how the switch(es) has beenmanipulated, and passes data expressing this information (hereinafterreferred to as “manipulation detection data”) to an object image datageneration section 22. The object image data generation section 22includes: an object data storage section (not shown) for storing imagedata of a player object (or a player character) to be controlled by theplayer, as well as image data of moving objects, such as non-playerobjects (i.e., enemy objects or friend objects which cannot becontrolled by the player); and an object generation control section (notshown) which reads image data of the player object and/or non-playerobjects stored in the object storage section. Based on a object controlprogram and the manipulation detection data in the operation switchsection 15, the object image data generation section 22 generates datarepresenting a changed image of the player object, and as necessary,generates image data of non-player object based on the program, andpasses such image data to a display control section 23. In order toallow the narrow-range map image serving as a background screen tochange in response to the movements of the player object, the currentcoordinate data of the player object is passed to a narrow-range mapimage data reading section 24.

The narrow-range map image data reading section 24 reads the map imagedata stored in the map image data storage section 25, generatesnarrow-range map image data, and supplies the narrow-range map imagedata to the display control section 23. As used herein, a “map”represents a game area within a game space, e.g., a background, theinside of a room, or a basement, and may be referred to as a “stage” ora “world” in some games. The broad-range map image data reading section26 reads the map image data stored in the map image data storage section25, generates broad-range map image data, and supplies the broad-rangemap image data to the display control section 23. The map image datastorage section 25 and the narrow-range map image data reading section24 together constitute a narrow-range map image data generation section.The map image data storage section 25 and the broad-range map image datareading section 26 together constitute a broad-range map image datageneration section. The narrow-range map image which is generated by thenarrow-range map image data reading section 24 is a map image of aregular size displayable by game software on a conventional hand-heldgame machine or a household video game machine. The broad-range mapimage generated by the broad-range map image data reading section 26 isa map image covering a broader area than the regular sized map image.Thus, it will be appreciated that “broad-range” and “narrow-range” aremere references to relative sizes. The “broad-range map image” and the“narrow-range map image” may alternatively be referred to as a “reducedmap” and an “enlarged map”, respectively. Specifically, in an embodimentwhere the map image data storage section 25 stores narrow-range map(enlarged map) image data, the narrow-range map image data readingsection 24 would only need the function of designating a read address,whereas the broad-range map image data reading section 26 would have thefunction of performing an image reduction in addition to the function ofdesignating a read address. Conversely, in an embodiment where the mapimage data storage section 25 stores broad-range map (reduced map) imagedata, the broad-range map image data reading section 26 would only needthe function of designating a read address, whereas the narrow-range mapimage data reading section 24 would have the function of performing animage enlargement in addition to the function of designating a readaddress.

If increase in the required memory capacity is not a problem, the mapimage data storage section 25 may be composed of a first storage section(not shown) for storing narrow-range map image data and a second storagesection (not shown) for storing broad-range map image data, and thenarrow-range map image data reading section 24 may control the data readfrom the first storage section whereas the broad-range map image datareading section 26 may control the data read from the second storagesection.

When the player uses the stick 17 or his/her finger to designate acoordinate position on the LCD 12 or designate a moving direction, thetouch panel 16 detects the designated coordinate data and passes it tothe touch panel manipulation detection section 27. If a coordinateposition is designated by a predetermined manipulation (e.g., the samecoordinate position being designated twice in the fashion of a doubleclick with a mouse), the player is giving an instruction indicating anarea to be displayed as the narrow-range map (enlarged map) image, thisarea being centered around the coordinates designated in the broad-rangemap image which is being displayed on the display screen of the LCD 12.In this case, the manipulation detection section 27 generates centercoordinate data of the narrow-range map image, and supplies the centercoordinate data to a map image change imparting section 28. On the otherhand, if the player uses the stick 17 or his/her finger to designate amoving direction (e.g., the coordinates as designated by the stick 17 orthe user's finger gradually change so as to indicate a movement in acertain direction), the player is giving an instruction for moving orscrolling the broad-range map image, which is displayed on the displayscreen of the LCD 12, in the designated direction. In this case, themanipulation detection section 27 supplies moving direction data(together with moving amount data, if necessary) to the map image changeimparting section 28. In the case of receiving center coordinate dataindicating an area to be displayed as the narrow-range map image, themap image change imparting section 28 supplies the coordinate data tothe narrow-range map image data reading section 24, so that anarrow-range map image after change (which is centered around thedesignated coordinate position) is displayed. On the other hand, in thecase of receiving moving direction data, the map image change impartingsection 28 supplies the moving direction data to the broad-range mapimage data reading section 26, so that broad-range map image data whichhas been scrolled in the designated moving direction is generated.

The display control section 23 merges the narrow-range map image datawhich has been generated by the narrow-range map image data readingsection 24 with the object image data which has been generated by theobject data generation section 22, and passes the result as a first gamepicture to a first LCD display driving circuit 29 a, so as to bedisplayed on the LCD 11. Moreover, the display control section 23 passesthe broad-range map image data which has been generated by thebroad-range map image data reading section 26 as a second game pictureto a second LCD display driving circuit 29 b, so as to be displayed onthe LCD 12. In the case where coordinate data has been supplied from themap image data change imparting section 28, the narrow-range map imagedata reading section 24 reads out image data of a narrow-range map(enlarged map) which is centered around the designated coordinateposition, so that a narrow-range map image after change will bedisplayed on the LCD 11. On the other hand, if moving direction data hasbeen supplied from the map image data change imparting section 28, thebroad-range map image data reading section 26 will read out broad-rangemap image data which gradually changes so that the broad-range map willappear to be gradually moving in the designated moving direction. As aresult of this, a moving (or scrolling) narrow-range map image will bedisplayed on the LCD 11.

The instruction of changes to be given through the manipulation of thetouch panel 16 may be confined to a change of the displaying coordinatesfor the enlarged displaying of a narrow-range map or to changing themoving direction for the broad-range map, or may involve changes in bothmap images. In the case where the broad-range map image is to be movedin accordance with a moving instruction by means of the touch panel 16,not only the moving direction of the user's finger or the like, but alsoan amount of move (vector) may be detected so that the broad-range mapimage is moved by a distance which is in accordance with the detectedmoving amount.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the entirety of a game map of a game whichis stored in a map image data storage section 25. The map (MAP) has agame space which is a multiple of times larger than the extent which canbe displayed on the LCD 12. In the example shown in FIG. 3, it isassumed that the map (MAP) is twice as long and twice as wide as thedisplay screen (or the displayed area) of the LCD 12, thus accountingfor an area which is four times as large as the display screen (or thedisplayed area) of the LCD 12. It is further assumed that thenarrow-range map to be displayed on the first LCD 11 has a theoreticaldisplayed area which is 1/2.5 times as large as the displayed area ofthe LCD 12. However, since the physical screen sizes of the LCD 11 andthe LCD 12 are equal, the narrow-range map on the LCD 11 is to bedisplayed as an enlarged map image of a portion of a background image inthe broad-range map on the LCD 12, the ratio of enlargement being 2.5times. In the actual game, moving objects (the player object andcomputer-controlled enemy objects and the like) may be merged on thenarrow-range map image shown on the upper screen (i.e., the LCD 11). Onthe other hand, the LCD 12 may show the broad-range map image alone, or,if necessary, show a mark indicating where the player object is supposedto exist (or alternatively a smaller player object which has beenreduced in accordance with the ratio of reduction of the broad-range mapto the narrow-range map) as merged with the broad-range map image. Notethat, in FIG. 3, any moving objects such as the player object andnon-player objects (i.e., enemy objects or friend objects which cannotbe controlled by the player) are omitted from illustration. In theactual game, a plurality of such maps (MAP) may be employed, to whichmap numbers are assigned for distinction.

Next, with reference to the principle block diagram of FIG. 2 and someexemplary game screens, an exemplary operation in which the displayingcoordinates for a narrow-range map image are designated by the user upona broad-range map image will be described. First, it is assumed that abroad-range map image as depicted by a solid line in the lower leftcorner of FIG. 3 is being displayed on the second LCD 12, whereas anarrow-range map image, as depicted by a broken line in the upper leftcorner of the displayed broad-range map image, is being displayed on thefirst LCD 11. Assuming that the entire map (MAP) (any portion of whichmay be displayed as the broad-range map) spans an area from coordinates(X0,Y0) to coordinates (Xm,Yn), the broad-range map image which iscurrently displayed on the LCD 12 is an area delineated by the followingfour points: coordinates (X0,Yn/2), coordinates (Xm/2,Yn/2), coordinates(X0,Yn), and coordinates (Xm/2,Yn). On the other hand, the narrow-rangemap image to be displayed on the LCD 11 is an area extending from anorigin which coincides with the coordinates (X0,Yn/2) of the broad-rangemap image, assuming that the origin of the narrow-range map image islocated at its upper left corner. In this state, the LCD 11 and the LCD12 will be displaying images which are shown in the upper half (upperscreen) and the lower half (lower screen) of FIG. 4, respectively.

In this state, if the player were to move the player object shown on thenarrow-range map image to a desired coordinate position, thenarrow-range map image would appear to be moving (i.e., scrolling) onlyin accordance with the movement of the player object, which might feelslow to the player. The player would need to impatiently hold down thedirection switch 15 a in the relevant moving direction until the playerobject reaches the desired coordinate position. However, through theabove-described input operations via the touch panel 16, the presentinvention can allow the player to move the player object to the desiredcoordinate position quickly and easily.

For example, let us assume that, in order to designate a change of thedisplaying coordinates for the narrow-range map to be displayed on thescreen of the LCD 11, the player has operated the touch panel 16 bytwice designating (i.e., double clicking) a coordinate position near acave (shown by double semicircles), which is shown slightly to the leftfrom the center of FIG. 5 (and near the lower left corner of FIG. 3).The reason for designating the same coordinate position twice is that itwould be impossible with only one designation to distinguish whether acoordinate position for the narrow-range map to be displayed has beendesignated, or the stick 17 is going to be moved to further designate amoving direction. Any other method besides twice designation can be usedso long as the two input operations can be distinguished (e.g., draw acircle). In response to the twice designation, the touch panel 12generates coordinate data of the coordinate position (shown as “x” inFIG. 3) twice in a row, and outputs the generated coordinate data to themanipulation detection section 27. In response to receiving the samecoordinate data twice in a row, the manipulation detection section 27generates changed coordinate data and a signal indicating the change inthe displaying coordinates, such that the narrow-range map image will beredisplayed so as to be centered around the new coordinate position.These data and signal are supplied to the narrow-range map image datareading section 24. In response, the narrow-range map image data readingsection 24 generates a read address for map image data based on thechanged coordinate data, reads out map image data defining a displayedarea on the LCD 11 centered around the new coordinate position, andsubjects the data to an enlargement process before being output to thedisplay control section 23. The display control section 23 generatesmerged image data, which contains moving object images such as theplayer object and/or the non-player objects being merged on the changednarrow-range map image, and supplies the generated merged image data tothe first LCD display driving circuit 29 a so as to be displayed on theLCD 11. As a result, the LCD 11 displays the narrow-range map image asshown in the upper half (upper screen) of FIG. 5, whereas the LCD 12displays the broad-range map image as shown in the lower half (lowerscreen) of FIG. 5.

Thus, within the broad-range map image displayed on the screen of theLCD 12, the player can designate through a simple operation anarrow-range map (enlarged map) for being displayed on the LCD 11,around a desired coordinate position. Therefore, by going back and forthbetween the two kinds of maps, the player can select a displayed area ofthe narrow-range map to his or her own advantage for playing the game,and such changes can be made with an arbitrarily timing. This allows theuser to play the game with strategic thoughts, and enhances thestrategical aspect of the game playing.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an exemplary operation inwhich the broad-range map image displayed on the LCD 12 is moved (orgradually scrolled) in a designated direction will be described. Forexample, in order to scroll the broad-range map image displayed on theLCD 12 to the right, the map (MAP) may be moved to the left against thestationary LCD 12. In this case, in order to give a moving instructionto move the broad-range map image shown in FIG. 6 to the right, theplayer may move the stick 17 to the left on the touch panel 16 (see themanipulation example of FIG. 7). The coordinate data generated by thetouch panel 16 will gradually decrease over time with respect to thex-axis component, while the y-axis component remains constant. If suchcoordinate data, of which only the x-axis component decreases over time,is input to the manipulation detection section 27, the manipulationdetection section 27 detects a moving instruction in the left direction.The manipulation detection section 27 derives a moving amount throughcoordinate calculations (if necessary), and supplies these results tothe map image data change imparting section 28. Based on the coordinatedata of which only the x-axis component gradually changes, the map imagedata change imparting section 28 generates control data which indicatesgradual changes in the basic read address (e.g., coordinates (X1,Yn/2)at time t1; coordinates (X2,Yn/2) at time t2; coordinates (X3,Yn/2) attime t3, and so on), and supplies the generated control data to thebroad-range map image data reading section 26. In each of the periodbetween t1 and t2, the period between t2 and t3, the period between t3and t4, and so on, the broad-range map image data reading section 26reads one screenful data of a broad-range map image, and supplies thedata of the broad-range map image thus read to the display controlsection 23. As a result, the broad-range map image will be displayed onthe LCD 12 so as to gradually scroll to the right, from t1 to t2 and tot3, and so on. Then, after the broad-range map image has been moved by amoving amount (or distance) designated together with the movingdirection, the scrolling of the broad-range map image is stopped, afterwhich the same broad-range map image will be continuously displayed.

On the other hand, in order to move the broad-range map image to theleft, the stick 17 may be moved to the right so that coordinate datawith a gradually increasing x-axis component is generated; thus, thebroad-range map image can be moved to the left. In order to move thebroad-range map image upwards, the stick 17 may be moved down so thatcoordinate data with a gradually increasing y-axis component isgenerated; thus, the broad-range map image can be moved upwards. Inorder to move the broad-range map image downwards, the stick 17 may bemoved up so that coordinate data with a gradually decreasing y-axiscomponent is generated; thus, the broad-range map image can be moveddownwards. Furthermore, a moving instruction in an oblique direction maybe given, such that coordinate data entailing changes in both the x-axiscomponent and the y-axis component is generated, whereby the broad-rangemap image can be moved in an oblique direction.

Alternatively, the hand-held game apparatus may be arranged so that themoving direction of the stick 17 and the scrolling direction of thebroad-range map image are the same. In this case, the manipulationdetection section 27 will reverse the polarity (+,−) of any increase ordecrease in the x-axis component and/or the y-axis component whensupplying the coordinate data to the map image change imparting section28.

Although the above example illustrates a case where the player object isnot shown in the broad-range map image displayed on the LCD 12, it willbe appreciated that a small version of the player object may bedisplayed on the LCD 12. In this case, the object image data generationsection 22 may be imparted with a function of generating a reducedplayer object (small-size object) by reducing the player object(large-size object) which is displayed on the LCD 11 in accordance withthe ratio of reduction of the broad-range map to the narrow-range map,and the display control section 23 may merge the small-size object withthe broad-range map image so as to be together displayed on the LCD 12.In this case, the moving velocities of the large-size object displayedon the LCD 11 and the small-size object displayed on the LCD 12 may beadjusted according to the ratio of reduction of the broad-range map tothe narrow-range map, so that the large-size object appears to movequicker and that the small-size object appears to move slower, thusestablishing synchronization between the two displayed objects.

The principle block diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates functional blocks of ahand-held game apparatus and a game program according to one embodimentof the present invention. In more practical embodiments, however, theoperation switch manipulation detection section 21, the object imagedata generation section 22, the display control section 23, thenarrow-range map image data reading section 24, the broad-range mapimage data reading section 25, the touch panel manipulation detectionsection 27, and the map image change imparting section 28 will beimplemented in the form of a game program and a processing circuit (CPU)which executes the game program. Such a practical embodiment will bedescribed in detail below.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a hand-held game apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, aCPU core 31 is mounted on an electronic circuit board 30 which isaccommodated in a housing 13. Via a bus 32, a connector 33, aninput/output interface (I/F) circuit 34, a first graphics processingunit (first GPU) 35, a second graphics processing unit (second GPU) 36,and a working RAM (hereinafter referred to as “W-RAM”) 37 are connectedto the CPU core 31. A memory card 18 is detachably connected to theconnector 33. The memory card 18 internalizes a ROM 180 and an S-RAM185. Backup power from a button battery (not shown) is supplied to theS-RAM 185 in order to prevent the stored data from being destroyed whenpower supply thereto is stopped as the memory card 18 is detached fromthe hand-held game apparatus 10. Read from the ROM 180 is controlled bythe CPU core 31. Write to and/or read from the S-RAM 185 is controlledby the CPU core 31. An operation switch section 15, a touch panel 16,and a loudspeaker 19 are connected to the I/F circuit 34. Theloudspeaker 19 is placed inside a sound hole 14 b. A first video RAM(hereinafter referred to as “V-RAM”) 38 is connected to the first GPU35. A second video RAM (hereinafter referred to as “V-RAM”) 39 isconnected to the second GPU 36.

Based on a program which is stored in the ROM 180, the CPU core 31 readsout one unit of map image data (e.g., the entire map image datacorresponding to a given map number, as indicated by “MAP” in FIG. 3),and transfers the map image data to the W-RAM 37. Moreover, from the ROM180, the CPU core 31 reads a program for controlling the generation of abroad-range map image and a program for controlling the generation of anarrow-range map image, and supplies the former program to the GPU 36and the latter program to the GPU 35. Then, the GPU 35 performs a readfrom the W-RAM 37 to generate narrow-range map image data, writes to theV-RAM 38 narrow-range map image data to be displayed as a single screen(i.e., map image data corresponding to the area 11 in FIG. 3) on the LCD11, and performs a read from the V-RAM 38 with a predetermined timing tocause the narrow-range map image to be displayed on the LCD 11.Concurrently, the GPU 36 performs a read from the W-RAM 37 to generatebroad-range map image data, writes to the V-RAM 39 broad-range map imagedata to be displayed as a single screen (i.e., map image datacorresponding to the area 12 in FIG. 3) on the LCD 12, and performs aread with a predetermined timing to cause the broad-range map image tobe displayed on the LCD 12.

In the case where the map image data which is set and stored in the ROM180 (and written to the W-RAM 37) is a narrow-range map image, the GPU35 generates map image data in the same size and writes the generatedmap image data to the V-RAM 38, and the GPU 36 generates reduced mapimage data and writes the reduced map image data to the V-RAM 39. On theother hand, in the case where the map image data which is set and storedin the ROM 180 is a broad-range map image, the GPU 36 generates mapimage data in the same size and writes the generated map image data tothe V-RAM 39, and the GPU 35 generates enlarged map image data andwrites the enlarged map image data to the V-RAM 38. If increase in therequired memory capacity is not a problem (as in the case of using anoptical information storage medium instead of a memory card, forexample), both the broad-range map image data and the narrow-range mapimage data may be stored in an external memory.

FIG. 9 is a memory map illustrating data stored in the ROM 180. In FIG.9, the ROM 180 generally includes storage areas 181 and 182. The storagearea 181, which is a storage area for storing image data, includes astorage area 181 a for storing object image data and a storage area 181b for storing map image data. The object image data storage area 181 astores a player object and moving objects other than the player object(i.e., enemy objects and friend objects). The storage area 181 b, whichis a storage area for storing map image data, stores map image data ofeach of first to N^(th) maps.

Note that only either one of the narrow-range map image or thebroad-range map image needs to be stored in the memory, because theother map image can be generated by enlarging or reducing the stored mapimage data. In the case where the map image is a three-dimensionalimage, the map image is generated from a plurality of polygon data forspecifying shapes, with a texture (which defines a pattern and/or color)being attached to a shape which is defined by each polygon data. In thiscase, the broad-range map image and the narrow-range map image may begenerated by varying the distance data from an imaginary camera to eachpolygon, and the generated images may be converted to bitmap image databefore being stored to the V-RAMs 38 and 39.

The storage area 182, which is a storage area for storing game programdata, includes storage areas 182 a, 182 b, 182 c, 182 d, and 182 e. Thestorage area 182 a stores an object displaying control program. Thestorage area 182 b stores a narrow-range map image displaying controlprogram. The storage area 182 c stores a broad-range map imagedisplaying control program. The narrow-range map image displayingcontrol program and the broad-range map image displaying control programare programs for generating or changing a broad-range map image and anarrow-range map image, respectively, in accordance with themanipulation of the direction switch 15 a and/or the manipulation of thetouch panel 16.

The storage area 182 d stores an operation switch manipulation detectionprocess program. The operation switch manipulation detection processprogram is a program which detects, for example, up, down, right, orleft directions indicated on the direction switch 15 a and a movingamount (as determined from the duration for which the indication of adirection is given), or which one of the operation switches 15 c and 15e has been pressed, such detection being made for every shortpredetermined period of time. The storage area 182 e stores a touchpanel manipulation detection process program. The touch panelmanipulation detection process program reads coordinate data whichvaries in response to the manipulation of the touch panel andtemporarily stores the coordinate data for every short predeterminedperiod of time (e.g., a frame), and detects changes in the coordinatedata for every long predetermined period of time (e.g., tens to hundredstimes the frame period). If the result of the detection indicates thatthe same (or substantially the same) coordinate data is being repeated,the touch panel manipulation detection process program detects that aninstruction to change a displaying coordinate position for thenarrow-range map image is being given. On the other hand, if the resultof the detection indicates that the coordinate data is changinggradually and continuously, the touch panel manipulation detectionprocess program detects that a moving direction is being designated,based on the amounts of changes in the x-axis component and the y-axiscomponent. Moreover, a moving amount (amount or distance of scroll) maybe detected based on a vector amount which combines the amounts ofchange in both the x-axis component and the y-axis component. Thedetails of the processes to be performed by the respective programsstored in the storage areas 18 a to 18 e will be described later withreference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts of exemplary game software for use with ahand-held game apparatus on which a game is to be played based on abroad-range map and a narrow-range map. FIG. 12 is a detailed flowchartof a touch panel manipulation detection process and an associated imageprocessing. Next, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 12, a specificoperation according to the present embodiment will be described, by alsoreferring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 to 12.

Once a power switch (not shown) is activated, the CPU core 31 begins toperform the following processes based on the programs stored in thestorage area 182 of the ROM 18. First, at step S11, initial processingis performed, which may proceed as follows, for example. After aninitial clear is performed for the W-RAM 37 and the V-RAMS 38 and 39,backup data (which may be, in the case where the game has already beenbeing played, game progress data such as the cleared map numbers,obtained experience points, and obtained items up to the last game play)stored in the reading RAM 185 is read, and written to a backup datastorage area (not shown) in the W-RAM 37. Moreover, a selection screenfor starting the game play is displayed to allow the player to selectwhether to begin the game from map number 1 (i.e., the first map) orcontinue from the map number from the last game play. At step S12, theselected map number (or map number “1” in the case of playing the gameanew) is set in a map counter (or a map register, which may be anaddress in the W-RAM 37, although not shown). Thus, preparatoryprocessing for beginning the game play is performed.

At the next step S13, the entire map image data of the map number whichis set in the map counter (e.g., the entire map MAP shown in FIG. 3) isread from the ROM 18, and written to the W-RAM 37. At step S14, thecoordinate data of the player object is set to initial values. Forexample, the coordinates of the upper left corner of the broad-range mapimage displayed on the LCD 12 may be written to a register (an addressin the W-RAM 37) for storing the coordinate position of the playerobject.

During a non-displaying period, i.e., a period in which the LCD 11 andthe LCD 12 do not display images, the processes of steps S15 to S18 areperformed. Specifically, it is determined at step S15 whether it is anon-displaying period of the LCD 11 and the LCD 12 now. If it isdetermined to be a non-displaying period, at step S16, the CPU core 31and the GPU 35 cooperate to perform processing associated with anarrow-range map image, based on the narrow-range map image displayingcontrol program. Specifically, the CPU core 31 instructs the GPU 35 toset a coordinate position according to initial values. For example, inthe exemplary image shown in FIG. 3, in order that a narrow-range mapimage spanning the area shown by the broken line 11 be displayed on theLCD 11, MAP coordinates (X0,Yn/2) are set so that the coordinates of theupper left corner of the display screen of the LCD 11 become offsetvalues. Then, a narrow-range map image data spanning the displayed areashown by the broken line 11 is read from the W-RAM 37 and supplied tothe GPU 35. The GPU 35 enlarges the narrow-range map image data inaccordance with the enlargement ratio for the narrow-range map so thatthe narrow-range map image will occupy the screen size of the LCD 11,and writes the enlarged narrow-range map image data to the V-RAM 38,thus temporarily storing the enlarged narrow-range map image data. Atstep S17, processing associated with moving objects (including theplayer object and the non-player objects) is performed, whereby theimage data of the moving objects is written over the narrow-range mapimage data stored in the V-RAM 38. As a result, an image combing thenarrow-range map image and the moving object images is now stored in theV-RAM 38. In the case where priority levels can be assigned to the mapimage and the moving objects (or any number of dots thereof), any imagedata to be displayed at the same coordinates (or dot) will be stored inthe V-RAM 38 in such a manner that, based on priority data (or Z valuedata), the image data having a higher priority is written over the imagedata having a lower priority. As a result, the higher-priority imagewill be displayed on the LCD 11 so as to appear as overlaying thelower-priority image.

At the next step S18, based on the broad-range map image displayingcontrol program, the CPU core 31 and the GPU 36 cooperate to performprocessing associated with the broad-range map image.

Specifically, the CPU core 31 instructs the GPU 36 to set a coordinateposition according to initial values. For example, in the exemplaryimage shown in FIG. 3, in order that a broad-range map image spanningthe area shown by the broken line 12 be displayed on the LCD 12, MAPcoordinates (X0,Yn/2) are set so that the coordinates of the upper leftcorner of the display screen of the LCD 12 become offset values. Then, abroad-range map image data spanning the displayed area shown by thebroken line 12 is read from the W-RAM 37 and supplied to the GPU 36. TheGPU 36 writes the broad-range map image data to the V-RAM 39, thustemporarily storing the broad-range map image data.

In the case where a small-size player object is to be displayed on theLCD 12, it will be appreciated that a process of generating a small-sizeobject in accordance with the reduction ratio for the map size, as wellas an overlaying process therefor, are to be performed between step S17and step S18.

At step S19, it is determined whether an input has been made by means ofthe direction switch 15 a. If it is determined that such an input hasbeen made, control proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, if it isdetermined that no such input has been made, control proceeds to stepS22. If an input has been made by means of the direction switch 15 a,step S20 executes a process of detecting the manipulation performed forthe direction switch 15 a. For example, if any one of the “up”, “down”,“right”, or “left” direction of the direction switch 15 a has beenpressed, a key code corresponding to that direction is read andtemporarily stored to an internal register (not shown). At step S21, aprocess of changing the current coordinate position of the player objectbased on the manipulation of the direction switch 15 a is performed. Atstep S22, it is determined whether an input has been made by means ofany other operation switches 15 b to 15 f. If it is determined an inputhas been made by means of any one of the operation switches 15 b to 15f, an input processing based on that switch is performed at step S23.After step S23, or if step S22 finds that no input has been made bymeans of the operation switches 15 b to 15 f, control proceeds to stepS24. Thus, processes based on the manipulations of the direction switch15 a and any other operation switches 15 b to 15 f are performed.

At step S24, it is determined whether an input of coordinates has beenmade through manipulation of the touch panel 16. If an input ofcoordinates has been made through manipulation of the touch panel 16,the subroutine process of step S40, i.e., a touch panel manipulationdetection process and an associated image processing based on thedetection (see FIG. 12), is performed, whose details will be describedlater.

At step S25, it is determined whether a map clear condition has beenmet. If it is determined that the map has not been cleared, step S26then determines whether the game is over. The game over determination ofstep S26 is based on whether the count value of the map counter hasreached the largest map number (N) or whether a game over condition(e.g., the hit points or life of the player having reached “0”) has beenmet. If step S25 finds that the map clear condition has not been met andif step S26 finds that the game over condition has not been met either,control returns to the aforementioned step S13, so that the processesfrom steps S13 to S26 and steps S29 and S30 (described later) will berepeated with a certain periodicity.

On the other hand, if step S15 finds that it is not a non-displayingperiod of the LCD 11 and the LCD 12 (that is, it is a displayingperiod), control proceeds to step S29. At step S29, the GPU 35 performsa read from the V-RAM 38 at a displaying timing of the LCD 11, so thatnarrow-range map image data is sequentially read during one frame periodin synchronization with frame scanning, whereby the narrow-range mapimage is displayed on the LCD 11. Also, at step S30, the GPU 36 performsa read from the V-RAM 39 at a displaying timing of the LCD 12, so thatbroad-range map image data is sequentially read during one frame periodin synchronization with frame scanning, whereby the broad-range mapimage is displayed on the LCD 12.

Thus, an image combining the narrow-range map image and the movingobjects is displayed on the LCD 11, whereas the broad-range map image isdisplayed on the LCD 12.

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the subroutine process of a touch panelmanipulation detection process and an associated image processing basedon the detection will be described. At step S41, coordinate dataacquired through manipulation of the touch panel is read, and written toa register (an address of the W-RAM 37). At step S42, it is determinedwhether the same coordinate position has been designated twice. Forexample, if a set of coordinates in the neighborhood of the cave locatedin a lower left portion of FIG. 3 has been designated twice, it isdetermined that the same coordinate position has been designated twice,and control proceeds to step S43, where a process of changing thenarrow-range map based on the coordinate position which has beendesignated twice is performed. In other words, in order to display anarrow-range map as delineated by the solid line which lies to the lowerright of the narrow-range map (enlarged map) delineated by the brokenline in FIG. 3, image data of a narrow-range map which is centeredaround a coordinate position near the cave is read from the W-RAM 37,and written to the V-RAM 38. Thereafter, control returns to step S25.Then, when the processes of steps S13 to S19 are performed during adisplaying period for the next frame, the narrow-range map image datawhich has been updated at step S29 is read by the GPU 35, whereby thenarrow-range map image as shown in the upper half of FIG. 5 is displayedon the LCD 11.

If the manipulation of the touch panel 16 is not twice-designations ofthe same coordinate position, but an instruction of a moving directionas indicated by moving the stick 17, step S42 determines that the samecoordinate position has not been designated twice, and control proceedsto step S44. At step S44, it is determined whether the input coordinatedata has been changed during a predetermined period of time. If it isdetermined that the input coordinate data has been changed during apredetermined period of time, step S45 calculates the moving directionwhich has been designed. This process of calculating the movingdirection is, for example, a process of deriving a tilt (angle) from theamounts of changes in the x-axis component and the y-axis component.Thereafter, control returns to step S25. In general, during theinstruction of a moving direction, steps S13 to S26 and S41 to S45 arerepeated a number of times, while gradually changing coordinate data aresequentially detected, and, once the stick 17 has been moved by adesired distance, the player takes the stick 17 off the screen of theLCD 12. Therefore, at one point during the repetitions of steps S13 toS26 and S41 to S45, absence of changes in the input coordinates for apredetermined period of time is detected, and then control proceeds tostep S46. At step S46, absence of input coordinates as well as absenceof changes in the coordinates for a predetermined period of time longerthan the period of time at step S44 are detected, after which controlproceeds to step S47. At step S47, a process of calculating the movingdirection (or distance) which has been designed is performed. Thisprocess is a process of calculating a vector amount, during a periodsince the coordinates of the stick 17 were first detected, after which achange in the designated coordinates is detected, until a relativelylong absence of changes in the input coordinates is detected; the vectoramount is calculated between the initially-designated coordinateposition and the coordinate position immediately before the change inthe input coordinates becomes undetectable. At the next step S48, aprocess of gradually changing the broad-range map image, so as togradually move in the designated moving direction by the calculatedmoving amount, is performed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, a map image whichhas been moved (scrolled) in the direction and by the moving amount asdesignated through the manipulation of the touch panel 16 is displayedon the LCD 12.

Thus, the player is able to play the game while watching either one orboth of the narrow-range map image and the broad-range map imagedepending on the situation. As necessary, the player can also manipulatethe touch panel 17 to change displaying coordinates (or displayed area)for the narrow-range map image, or scroll the broad-range map image, tohis or her own advantage for playing the game.

On the other hand, if step S25 finds that the map clear condition hasbeen met, the count value of the map counter is incremented by one atstep S27. Then, unless step S26 finds that the game over condition hasbeen met, control returns to step S13 to repeat a similar flow to thatdescribed above, so that displaying processes for map imagescorresponding to the next map number (i.e., processes of steps S13 toS26 and S41 to S48) are performed.

If step S26 finds that the game over condition has been met, controlproceeds to step S28, where game over processing is performed. In thegame over processing, data indicating the game progress which is storedin the W-RAM 37 (e.g., the cleared map numbers, obtained experiencepoints, hit points, life, obtained items, and various other data) isread by the CPU core 31, and written to the RAM 185 of the memory card18. Thus, the entire game processing operation is completed.

The above embodiments illustrate examples where two physically separateLCDs 11 and 12 are disposed one on top of the other (i.e., twovertically-arranged screens) as liquid crystal display sectionsembodying two screens. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, a singlehousing 13 c which is elongated along the horizontal direction may beused, while omitting the upper housing 13 a, so that the LCDs 11 and 12embodying two screens are accommodated side by side in the housing 13 c.Since it is likely that there are more right-handed users thanleft-handed users, the LCD 12 having the touch panel 16 mounted thereonis preferably located on the right side, whereas the LCD 11 is locatedon the left side. Of course, an opposite structure may be adopted in thecase of producing a hand-held game apparatus for left-handed users.

As a further alternative to employing two physically separate LCDs 11and 12 which are disposed one on top of the other, a structure as shownin FIG. 14 may be adopted, which employs only one LCD. The LCD shown inFIG. 14 has the same horizontal dimension as that of the above-describedLCDs 11 and 12, but has a vertical dimension which is twice as long asits horizontal dimension, so as to be capable of displaying two screenson one top of the other. Thus, the physically single LCD can provideliquid crystal display sections embodying two screens, on which two mapimages can be displayed on one top of the other, without any physicalseparation between the upper and lower screens. Similarly, as shown inFIG. 15, an LCD may be employed which has the same vertical dimension asthat of the above-described LCDs 11 and 12, but has a horizontaldimension which is twice as long as its vertical dimension. Such an LCDis capable of displaying two map images side by side along the lateraldirection, without any physical separation between the right and leftscreens.

Although the above embodiments illustrate examples where the touch panel16 is mounted on only one screen, i.e., the LCD 12, it will beappreciated that the touch panel 16 may be mounted on both liquidcrystal display sections (LCDs 11 and 12), so as to provide two screenswhich are equipped with the touch panel 16.

While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It isunderstood that numerous other modifications and variations can bedevised without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game system comprising: a first display area; asecond display area; a storage device storing program instructions; atleast one processor coupled to the storage device, the at least oneprocessor executing said program instructions to provide a game imagegeneration section which generate plural game images representing a gamemap, the plural game images including a broad-range game imagerepresenting a relatively broad range in the game map and a narrow-rangegame image representing a relatively narrow range in the game map, thebroad-range and narrow-range game images each showing the game mapviewed from a common direction; display control section coupled to theprocessor, the display control section being configured to display thebroad-range game image on the first display area and to display thenarrow-range game image on the second display area; a coordinatedetection section which detects coordinates on the first display area,the second display area or both; and a manipulation detection sectioncoupled to the coordinate detection section, the manipulation detectionsection detecting either one or both of a moving amount and a movingdirection of the coordinates; wherein the processor executes saidprogram instructions to further provide an image control section whichcontrols at least one of the broad-range game image or the narrow-rangegame image based on said either one or both of the moving amount and themoving direction.
 2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein, thecoordinate detection section detects the coordinates on the firstdisplay area displaying the broad-range game image, the manipulationdetection section further detects, based on the coordinates detected bythe coordinate detection section, coordinates designated by a user, andthe game image generation section, when the manipulation detectionsection has detected the designated coordinates, calculates a positionon the broad-range game image based on the coordinates detected by thecoordinate detection section and changes the narrow-range game imagegenerated by the game image generation section so as to be thenarrow-range game image around the position on the broad-range gameimage.
 3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein, the game imagegeneration section changes, in accordance with the calculated positionon the broad-range game image, the narrow-range game image generated bythe game image generation section, and changes, in accordance with themoving direction detected by the manipulation detection section on thebroad-range game image, the broad-range game image so as to scroll thebroad-range game image, and the changed narrow-range game image and thechanged broad-range game image are combined with player object images ofwhich sizes have been adjusted based on scales of the narrow-range gameimage and the broad-range game image, respectively.
 4. The game systemaccording to claim 1, wherein, the manipulation detection sectiondetects at least the moving direction, and the game image generationsection, when the manipulation detection section has detected the movingdirection, changes, in accordance with the moving direction, thebroad-range game image so as to be the broad-range game image havingbeen moved in the moving direction.
 5. The game system according toclaim 1, wherein, the coordinate detection section detects thecoordinates on the first display area displaying the broad-range gameimage, the manipulation detection section detects the moving directionand further detects, based on the coordinates detected by the coordinatedetection section, coordinates designated by a user, and the game imagegeneration section: when the manipulation detection section has detectedthe designated coordinates, calculates a position on the broad-rangegame image based on the coordinates detected by the coordinate detectionsection and changes the narrow-range game image generated by the gameimage generation section so as to be the narrow-range game image aroundthe position on the broad-range game image; and changes, in accordancewith the moving direction detected by the manipulation detectionsection, the broad-range game image generated by the game imagegeneration section so as to be the broad-range game image having beenmoved in the moving direction.
 6. A game system comprising: a firstdisplay area and a second display area; a storing device that storesprogram instructions; a computer processor coupled to the storagedevice, the computer processor executing the stored program instructionsto provide a game image generation section which generates game imagesrepresenting a game map viewed from a direction, the generated gameimages including a broad-range game image representing a relativelybroad range in the game map viewed from the direction and a narrow-rangegame image representing a relatively narrow range in the game map viewedfrom the direction; a display control section which displays thebroad-range game image on the first display area and displays thenarrow-range game image on the second display area; a coordinatedetection section which detects coordinates on at least either one ofthe first display area or the second display area; a manipulationdetection section which detects either one or both of a moving amountand a moving direction of the coordinates; from the coordinates; and animage control section which controls at least either one of thebroad-range game image or the narrow-range game image based on saideither one or both of the moving amount and the moving direction tothereby control the first display area to display as a first gamepicture the broad-range game image data and controls the second displayarea to display as a second game picture the narrow-range game image. 7.The game system according to claim 6, wherein, the manipulationdetection section further detects that a predetermined click operationhas been performed on the coordinate detection section, and generatesdata designating a display area for the narrow-range game image which iscentered around a position on the narrow-range image that corresponds tocoordinates at which the detected click operation has been performed,and the game image generation section changes, in accordance with thedata designating the display area, the narrow-range game image so as torepresent the narrow-range game image around the position.
 8. The gamesystem according to claim 6, wherein, the manipulation detection sectiondetects at least the moving direction and the game image generationsection, when the manipulation detection section has detected the movingdirection, changes, in accordance with the moving direction, thebroad-range game image so as to be the broad-range game image havingbeen moved in the moving direction.
 9. The game system according toclaim 8, wherein, the coordinate detection section detects thecoordinates on the first display area displaying the broad-range gameimage, the manipulation detection section detects the moving directionand further detects, based on the coordinates detected by the coordinatedetection section, coordinates designated by a user, and the game imagegeneration section has detected the designated coordinates, calculates aposition on the broad-range game image based on the coordinates detectedby the coordinate detection section and changes the narrow-range gameimage generated by the game image generation section so as to be thenarrow-range game image around the position on the broad-range gameimage; and changes, in accordance with the moving direction detected bythe manipulation detection section, the broad-range game image generatedby the game image generation section so as to be the broad-range gameimage having been moved in the moving direction.
 10. The game systemaccording to claim 6, wherein, the game image generation sectionchanges, in accordance with a calculated position on the broad-rangegame image, the narrow-range game image generated by the game imagegeneration section and changes, in accordance with the moving directiondetection by the manipulation detection section on the broad-range gameimage, the broad-range game image so as to scroll the broad-range gameimage; and the changed narrow-range game image and the changedbroad-range game image are combined with player object images of whichsizes have been adjusted based on scales of the narrow-range game imageand the broad-range game image, respectively.
 11. A non-transitorystorage medium storing a game program for use with a game systemcomprising a first display area and a second display area; the gameprogram comprising instructions causing a computer to perform:generating game images representing a game map viewed from a direction,the generated game images comprising a broad-range game imagerepresenting a relatively broad range in the game map viewed from thedirection and a narrow-range game image representing a relatively narrowrange in the game map viewed from the direction; displaying thebroad-range game image on the first display area; displaying thenarrow-range game image on the second display area; detectingcoordinates on at least either one of the first display area or thesecond display area; detecting either one or both of a moving amount anda moving direction of the coordinates from the coordinates, andcontrolling at least one of the broad-range map or the narrow-range mapbased on said either one or both of the moving amount and the movingdirection.
 12. The non-transitory storage medium storing the gameprogram according to claim 11, wherein, the detecting includes detectingthe coordinates on the first display area displaying the broad-rangegame image, and detecting, based on the detected coordinates,coordinates designated by a user, and when the designated coordinateshave been detected, calculating a position on the broad-range game imagebased on the coordinates detected, and changing the narrow-range gameimage so as to be the narrow-range game image around the position on thebroad-range game image.
 13. The non-transitory storage medium storingthe game program according to claim 11, wherein, the second-reciteddetecting includes detecting at least the moving direction, and theimaging generating includes changing, when moving direction has beendetected, changes, in accordance with the moving direction, thebroad-range game image so as to be the broad-range game image havingbeen moved in the moving direction.
 14. The non-transitory storagemedium storing the game program according to claim 11, wherein, thedetecting includes detecting the coordinates on the first display areadisplaying the broad-range game image and detecting the moving directionand further detecting, based on the coordinates detected, coordinatesdesignated by a user, and when the designated coordinates have beendetected, calculating a position on the broad-range game image based onthe detected coordinates and changing the narrow-range game image so asto be the narrow-range game image around the position on the broad-rangegame image, and changing, in accordance with the moving directiondetected by the manipulation detection, the broad-range game imagegenerated by the map image generation so as to be the broad-range mapimage having been moved in the moving direction.
 15. A non-transitorystorage medium storing a game program for use with a game systemcomprising a first display area and a second display area, the gameprogram comprising instructions causing a computer to perform:generating game images representing a game map viewed from the adirection, the generated game images comprising a broad-range game imagerepresenting a relatively broad range in the game map viewed from thedirection and a narrow-range game image representing a relatively narrowrange in the-game map viewed from the direction; displaying thebroad-range game image on the first display area and displaying thenarrow-range game image on the second display area; detectingcoordinates on at least either one of the first display area and thesecond display area; manipulation detection which at least detectseither one or both of a moving amount and a moving direction of thecoordinates from the coordinates; and controlling at least either one ofthe broad-range game image or the narrow-range game image based oneither one or both of the moving amount and the moving direction. 16.The non-transitory storage medium storing the game program according toclaim 15, wherein, while the broad-range game image is being displayedby the second display area, the manipulation detection generates datafrom the image, designating a displayed area for the narrow-range gameimage which is centered around a designated coordinate position, basedon a predetermined click operation on a touch panel, and furtherincluding imparting changes, in accordance with the data designating thedisplayed area as detected by the manipulation detection, thenarrow-range map image data so as to be the narrow-range map imagearound the designated coordinate position.
 17. The non-transitorystorage medium storing the game program according to claim 15, wherein,the manipulation detection detects at least the moving direction, andthe game image changes, when the moving direction has been detected, inaccordance with the moving direction as detected by the manipulationdetection, the broad-range game image so as to be the broad-range gameimage having been moved in the moving direction.
 18. The non-transitorystorage medium storing the game program according to claim 15, wherein,the coordinate detection detects the coordinates on the first displayarea displaying the broad-range game image, the manipulation detectiondetects the moving direction and further detects, based on thecoordinates detected by the coordinate detection, coordinates designatedby a user, and the game image generation, when the manipulationdetection has detected the designated coordinates, calculates a positionon the broad-range game image based on the coordinates detected by thecoordinate detection and changes the narrow-range game image generatedby the game image generation so as to be the narrow-range game imagearound the position on the broad-range game image; and changes, inaccordance with the moving direction detected by the manipulationdetection, the broad-range game image generated by the game imagegeneration so as to be the broad-range game image having been moved inthe moving direction.
 19. A method of selectively displaying gameinformation, comprising: (a) displaying a first range of game images ina first display area; (b) displaying a second range of game images in asecond display area, said second range of game images being a smallersubset of the first range of game images, said first and second rangesof game images representing the game map viewed from a common direction;(c) sensing touch input coordinates to at least one of the first displayarea and the second display area to designate at least a movingdirection and a moving amount of the coordinates; and (d) using at leastone computer processor to selectively control the display of at leastone of the first display area and the second display area based on atleast one of the moving amount and the moving direction.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein the displaying (a) further comprises displaying afirst range of game information in the first display area provided by afirst display, wherein the first display is provided separate from andin close proximity to the second display area.
 21. The method of claim19, wherein the displaying (a) further comprises displaying a firstrange of game information on a first display area comprising a portionof a display on which the second display area is also defined.
 22. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the selectively controlling (d) comprisesshifting the displayed second range of game information in a direction,based at least in part on the input, to display a new second range ofgame information.
 23. A system for displaying a game map comprising: auser coordinate input detector; a manipulation processor coupled to theuser coordinate input detector, the manipulation processor detectingeither one or both of a moving amount and a moving direction of detecteduser coordinate input; and a game image generator coupled to themanipulation processor, the game image generator generating first andsecond images of the game map for concurrent display, the first imagedepicting a portion of the game map covering a first range, the secondimage depicting a portion of the game map covering a second range, thesecond range being narrower than the first range, the first and secondimages depicting respective game map portions from the same viewingdirection, the game image generator controlling at least one of thefirst and second images based on the detected either one or both of themoving amount and the moving direction.
 24. The system of claim 23wherein the second image shows a subset of the game map portion thefirst image depicts.
 25. The system of claim 23 further including firstand second displays coupled to the image generator, the first displaydisplaying the first image, the second display concurrently displayingthe second image, at least one of the first and second displayscomprising a touch screen, the touch screen providing the usercoordinate input detector.
 26. The system of claim 23 further includingfirst and second display areas coupled to the image generator, the firstdisplay area displaying the first image, the second display areadisplaying the second image, at least one of the first and seconddisplay areas being touch sensitive.